In-Home Care (Nanny Care) 

Nanny Care, sometimes called in-home care, is provided by a friend, a relative or a "nanny" who works in a family's home caring for the children. The work may be full-time or part-time, the nanny may or may not live with the family. The caregiver is responsible for the complete care of the children of the employer. The family is the legal employer and must comply with all federal tax laws.

• Professionally trained nannies can be very expensive, ranging from $500 weekly for live-in care to nearly $1,000 weekly if they don't live in your home. Most expect a car allowance and/or the use of the family vehicle. Some require health insurance to be included as well.

• A full-time nanny or babysitter without formal training can range from $175 a week for live-in care to $300 or beyond if they don't live in your home.

• A third option is an au pair. Aside from room and board, an au pair usually earns $115 to $125 per week. Many au pairs are placed by professional matching services. Families who use these services are also often responsible for paying $500 per year toward an au pair's tuition costs and are charged a fee of $3,000 to $5,000 to participate in the program

Our Guide to Selecting a Nanny can help parents decide whether they want care in their own home for their child(ren), provides suggestions on how to select a nanny, explains the tax implications of hiring a household employee, contains a sample contract, and offers information about professional nanny services.

You can perform a background check on any applicants through the Washington State Patrol  Visit that web site>